Linkin Bark: Warner Records/WRN's Warren Zeiders (and Teddy) with the label's Anna Cage (l) and iHeart/Kentucky's Rachel Elliot.
Chapter Booked: Stoney Creek's Atlus visits the Nashville Chapter of The Recording Academy. Pictured (l-r) are publicist Jay Jones, the Academy’s Kenyon Glenn and Alicia Warwick, Atlus, the Academy's Sydney Verge and Riot Music Group's Andrew Perlowich.
Wuthering Hearts: Big Machine's Caroline Jones with the label's Jimmy Harnen, iHeart's John Sykes and producer Ric Wake (l-r) at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.
Two Of iHearts: Quartz Hill's Matt Cooper with iHeartMedia's Rod Phillips (l) and Gregg Swedberg.
Parky Mode: Broken Bow's Dustin Lynch (c) with KNIX/Phoenix's Reid Spivey, Lois Lewis, Brooke Hoover and Tucker Fenton (l-r) at Boots in the Park.
ACM Awards Nominees 2026
The 61st Academy Of Country Music Awards nominees are:
Entertainer
- Luke Combs
- Jelly Roll
- Cody Johnson
- Megan Moroney
- Chris Stapleton
- Morgan Wallen
- Lainey Wilson
Female
- Kelsea Ballerini
- Miranda Lambert
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
- Lainey Wilson
Male
- Luke Combs
- Riley Green
- Cody Johnson
- Chris Stapleton
- Zach Top
Duo
- Brooks & Dunn
- Brothers Osborne
- Dan + Shay
- Muscadine Bloodline
- Thelma & James
Group
- 49 Winchester
- Flatland Cavalry
- Old Dominion
- Rascal Flatts
- The Red Clay Strays
New Female
- Avery Anna
- Mackenzie Carpenter
- Dasha
- Caroline Jones
- Emily Ann Roberts
New Male
- Gavin Adcock
- Vincent Mason
- Shaboozey
- Hudson Westbrook
- Tucker Wetmore
Album
- Ain’t In It For My Health, Zach Top
- Cherry Valley, Carter Faith
- Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe), Riley Green
- I’m The Problem, Morgan Wallen
- Parker McCollum, Parker McCollum
Single
- "6 Months Later," Megan Moroney
- "Choosin’ Texas," Ella Langley
- "I Never Lie," Zach Top
- "Somewhere Over Laredo," Lainey Wilson
- "The Fall," Cody Johnson
Song
- "A Song To Sing," Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, writers: Stapleton, Lambert, Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure
- "Am I Okay?" Megan Moroney, writers: Moroney, Luke Laird, Jessie Jo Dillon
- "Choosin’ Texas," Ella Langley, writers: Langley, Luke Dick, Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor
- "I Never Lie," Zach Top, writers: Top, Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols
- "Somewhere Over Laredo," Lainey Wilson, writers: Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson, Andy Albert, Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg
Music Event
- "A Song To Sing," Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton
- "Amen," Shaboozey, Jelly Roll
- "Don’t Mind If I Do," Riley Green, Ella Langley
- "Trailblazer," Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson
- "You Had To Be There," Megan Moroney, Kenny Chesney
Visual Media
- "6 Months Later," Megan Moroney
- "A Song To Sing," Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton
- "Cuckoo," Stephen Wilson, Jr.
- "Somewhere Over Laredo," Lainey Wilson
- "The Fall," Cody Johnson
Artist-Songwriter
- Luke Combs
- Riley Green
- Ella Langley
- Megan Moroney
- Morgan Wallen
Songwriter
- Jessie Jo Dillon
- Ashley Gorley
- Charlie Handsome
- Chase McGill
- Blake Pendergrass
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards will stream live on Prime Video May 17 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Tickets are available here,
